Category: Field trips

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Saturday, Sept 7th Field Trip

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Sept 7th: O’toole Creek Mt Baker Rock & Gem Club field trip on the South Skagit Hwy. I propose a 10AM meeting point at REI on southside Bellingham to carpool to the site. I think there is only room for around 5 vehicles. I will have maps to the area and samples of material to be found.

Material to collect: There is a large iron deposit in this area that extends to the other side of the Skagit river to Hamilton area. The guide books list the material as Hematite. However, is strongly magnetic so I suspect Magnetite-Hematite combo. Hematite is only slightly magnetic when heated. There is a large amount of this black rock to be found the last time I was here a couple of years ago. I filled 5 gallon bucket in less than 1/2 hr.

Rockhound tools, etc: Bring boots since you will have to cross the stream in spots. A magnet would be handy also. Eyewear if you want to break any larger rocks.

I use a Harbor Freight magnet with about a 30″ handle which makes it easy to identify the magnetite. Almost anything dark colored in the creek seems to be this material. There is also some Serpentine and Jade in the nearby creeks (like Gilligan) we might also stop at. This is an easy newby rockhound trip for anyone to find magnetic rocks. Please respond here that are you are interested in this trip so I can get an idea of how many people to plan for. I believe we also have a preliminary date of Oct 6th for Rosario Beach field trip.

~Michael L

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Upcoming Field Trip June 22, 2024

Here is a members-only field trip opportunity this weekend: Daniel Doering is leading another field trip this Saturday, June 22nd on Bailey Trail to source Rainbow Chert. To participate, meet at the Verlot ranger station at 9 am to convoy to the dig (~90 minute commute.) [33515 Mountain Loop Hwy, Granite Falls, WA 98252]

Bring a chisel, small crowbar, crack hammer, rock hammer. Gloves, buckets, eye protection, etc. (If anyone has a large sledge hammer, that would be useful as well.)

This is hard rock mining, but there is a lot of material to collect just off the road as well, so all skill levels are welcome to attend!

For more information, contact Daniel directly at: 360-319-4722

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Field Trip, Saturday, May 4th

Daniel Doering is taking folks out for another field trip to Swift Creek on Saturday, May 4th.

If you’d like to join, meet at the Concrete Grocery Store at 9 am. 

Road conditions: 4×4 recommended, will need a vehicle with high clearance due to 6-8″ deep potholes.

Bring a backpack and some water, but tools are not necessary. Any questions or concerns, contact Daniel ahead of time, at 360-319-4722. (There is no service near the actual site. )

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Field Trip Opportunity – Saturday, March 16th

3/16 CHERRY CK. RED & YELLOW JASPER


Meet at North end of Duvall on Hwy 203, West side, across from NE Cherry Valley Rd. before 9 am. From there it is a 10 mile trip. Last 5 miles , dirt. 2 miles serious pot holes. Most cars are O K with care. Collecting in ck you only need a rock hammer and something to carry your rocks in. Wading in creek at least knee boots. You can go upstream to the source. There you will need 3# hammer, small pick, chisel, small shovel & small pry bar.
We will be parking just over bridge at a small water falls. Best collecting for small kids, between falls & bridge. To go upstream it is overgrown brush. Go to right 50 yards, then in to trees to ck. If beavers have flooded ck, go to hillside and upstream on left till you get above Pond. If you want to get to source, continue to where it levels up at lake delta. Just as it levels look on right side for a tiny creek. Ck will disappear under bush for a ways. When it is exposed again continue up. And maybe dig a little. Keep going up to waterfall. You have reached the source. We have taken many 100’s of # there. I have never went further.
Just fore the record, from where we park, 3 miles downstream is a big beautiful waterfalls. Because of the gates and a turnoff to falls, it’s a long walk or bike ride. I am going to research a new route on my map program, from Highrock. Check in with me later for details’. You will find lots of carbonized black wood. It won’t take a high gloss, but in the cracks and worm holes it has Marcasite filling. Makes good cabs of semi-gloss back with shiny golden metallic patterns.


Ed Lehman Home (425) 334–6282 on trips (425) 760-2786 or wsmced2@outlook.com

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Presentation on fossils available

The slide presentation given at the February, 2024, meeting is available at the Field Trips page. The presentation titled “Fossil Trail of Washington and Oregon” describes sites where you can view or collect fossils. The PDF version provides one slide per page along with any speaker notes for the page.

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Beach Field Trips

Beach Field trip and Picnic.

We will have a canopy set up on site with charts showing beach rocks that can be found on the beaches of the Georgian Straight. We will help identify what you find when you go to our local beaches. Bring your family and beach going chairs, blankets, buckets and lunches and share a fun time of rock hounding.

Two dates; Two locations

Saturday June 17 10-2 at Semiahmoo Park, Blaine, WA

Sunday. July 1 10-2 at Cherry Point Beach

Put the dates in your calendar

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DIY Field Trips

There is now a page under the Field Trips menu for Do It Yourself field trips. These are easily accessible sites that don’t require specialized knowledge. Some sites, like beachcombing, feature collecting. Others are “look-and-learn” sites.

The first two trips are for viewing crinoid fossils. I expect to add some beachcombing info next. You can provide info to me about candidate DIY trips via the club’s email or at a meeting.

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Garnierite Field Trip to Marblemount

There is a field trip scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29 to Marblemount in Skagit County for garnierite, a nickelite. Due to very limited parking at the site, we will need to carpool, so there is an RSVP sign-up required for this trip.
After reading the details, if you want to attend this trip, please send me (Seren Fargo, rocknbeetle@gmail.com) your name and phone number and answers to the following questions by Wednesday, Sept. 25. For questions, contact Seren 360-671-0286

Can you can carry other passengers?
If so, how many passengers?
Are you willing to be a passenger yourself?

We will meet at Bloedel-Donovan Park by the main building at 11:00 am and head out no later than 11:15 am.
I will pass out maps when we meet.
It is about 80 miles to the site. Once there, there is little walking necessary. However, if you collect in the creek rather than up-top, there is a short, but steepish embankment to get down.
No permits necessary for this site.
There are no facilities at this site, but there is a porta-potty at a campground on the way there (within a mile).
Pets not recommended on this trip as we will be carpooling and there are some unfriendly dogs at a property across the street.

  • — Bucket(s) for rocks
  • — Rock hammer and chisel(s) – Rocks can also be collected from the creek without digging
  • — Goggles if you’re hammering
  • — Good shoes or boots – For collecting in creek, you may want rubber boots or such with good grip for mossy rocks
  • — Appropriate clothing for weather (layer for changes in weather) – it could be cold and the creek is very cold (can keep hands warmer in creek by wearing cloth gloves with larger rubber gloves over them)
  • — Change of socks/shoes if you go in creek and get wet
  • — Hand towel (once again, if you’re in the creek)
  • — Food and Water
Garnierite
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June Field trip

Got the ok to rockhound at the Beaver Lake Quarry (greenstone with spotting and inclusions), with collection restrictions. This is to be a group trip only – the quarry is open to collecting only for a planned day and time, so please do not head out there on your own.
One of the owners has offered to open it up to our group on a day they aren’t running their equipment, etc.
I will have all the details later, but for now, mark down this date: Saturday, June 29th for an afternoon trip. We will meet at Bloedel around 11- ish and travel as a group.
I will be posting another announcement later this week with all the details: directions, meeting place and time, what you will need to bring, etc., so no need to inquire at this time.